Mandy Grunewald

What is your major? History and Asian language and culture, with certificates in southeast Asian studies, folklore, and environmental studies

Expected graduation: December 2025

What inspired your interest in the environment and/or community? My experiences growing up were a bit different than most. We lived right along Yellowstone and Big Sky, Montana, so nature was always right outside my window.

My mom took me to work with her where she helped rehabilitate and reintroduce wild wolf packs to nature. Her bosses had “house goats,” the DNR brought baby animals to the schools to introduce us to nature early, and a moose in the yard wasn’t that uncommon.

During one summer, my mom and I lived out of a tent in the forests of Yellowstone National Park and the love of nature never left me. Seeing moose, mountain lions, and wolves first thing when you wake up is an amazing, and sometimes terrifying experience. I wanted to keep that experience alive by continuing to learn about the environment and sustainable living so that I could hopefully live off the land again later in life.

What would you say to other students who ask about CESP or the Nelson Institute? CESP is one of my favorite times of the week because you know you will get to be with people that are interested in things that you are also, regardless of their major — which is not a given in every area of study. You meet people that you automatically have something in common with, and have a special small community of people that are there to help you, and support you.

Something few people know about you: I can recite all of “Scary Movie” by heart. Impressed?